TWO men have appeared in court charged with maliciously wounding a Portuguese man in Southport town centre last Wednesday.

Hugo Alexander Alves, 22, and Carlos Alberto Ferreira da Silva , 37, both of Bank Square, Southport, are accused of an attack on Jose Samuel Dos Santos Ferreira. They appeared in North Sefton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, when their cases were sent to Liverpool Crown Court.

Paramedics took Mr Ferreira to Southport Hospital after being called to Seabank Road at just before 6.45pm on Wednesday. His injuries were not thought to have been life-threatening and it is understood he has since been discharged. A 20-year-old woman also arrested in relation to the incident was later released without charge.

Both Alves and da Silva – who spoke through an interpreter only to confirm their details – have been remanded on bail until their next court appearance. Conditions of their bail include their residence at an Ellesmere Port bail hostel.

They must also not enter Southport except to see their solicitor and must not have contact with Mr Ferreira.